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Robert Campbell

1902 – 1972

Director of Queensland Art Gallery

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About Robert Campbell

Lived 1902 – 1972 (aged 69–70). Robert Campbell was an Australian artist and director.

Robert Campbell (1902–1972) was director of the Art Gallery of South Australia, the first director of the Queensland Art Gallery and also a painter in his own right. In 1955 a portrait of him by painter Ivor Hele won the Archibald Prize.

The first painting acquired by the QAG in 1896 was Evicted, by the British painter Blandford Fletcher. Although it was the gallery's most popular picture, it was controversially retired from public display in 1949 by Campbell, who was the newly-appointed director, and who declared that it was only popular "because it had a sentimental touch".

In May 1955, while director of the AGSA, he considered it was important to establish an Aboriginal art collection, which extended beyond the anthropological objects held by the museum. He also wrote a book on Tom Roberts.

His wife Elizabeth wrote on art as "Elizabeth Young" for newspapers for New South Wales and Queensland, and in 1952 succeeded H. E. Fuller as art critic for Adelaide's Advertiser.

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Important facts

Born
1902
Birth century
Died
1972
Occupation
Nationality
Education
George Watson's College

People in Robert Campbell's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Robert Campbell's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Robert Campbell?

Director of Queensland Art Gallery (1902–1972)

When was Robert Campbell born?

Robert Campbell was born in 1902.

When did Robert Campbell die?

Robert Campbell died in 1972.

What was Robert Campbell's occupation?

Robert Campbell was an artist and director.

What nationality was Robert Campbell?

Robert Campbell was Australian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Robert Campbell

· Wikidata: Q7342714

· DBpedia: Robert Campbell (art gallery director)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Robert Campbell. https://biography.guide/robert-campbell/

MLA: "Robert Campbell." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/robert-campbell/.

Chicago: "Robert Campbell." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/robert-campbell/.

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